Explosions, gunfire heard in Syrian capital

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A string of explosions and gunfire has been heard in the Syrian capital, Damascus, as clashes continue between government forces and foreign-backed insurgents across the Arab country.According to reports, the initial blasts were heard at around 6:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Monday.There are no reports of possible casualties or the exact locations of the explosions.Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. While the West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of killing protesters, Damascus blames 'outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups' for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the armed militants are foreign nationals.Damascus also says the insurgents are supported by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar as well as several Western countries.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on August 1 that the country is engaged in a “crucial and heroic” battle that will determine the destiny of the nation.  /129